Crops articles from February 2007

Crops archives from February 2007

Reap benefits of biomass-driven dose variation: putting plant growth regulators where they are needed at the right dose could help the bank balance and the environment. Andrew Blake reports.(TECHNICAL)
February 10, 2007... On-the-move variable rate spraying of plant growth regulators proved promising in trials on a Yorkshire farm last season. The idea, in which the dose is automatically derived from crop biomass measurements, aims to ensure the most...

Right nitrogen timing pays off for OSR: with oilseed rape prices recovering, the latest nitrogen fertiliser timing advice could pay dividends. Sarah Henly reports.(RESEARCH IN FOCUS)
February 10, 2007... Using nitrogen fertiliser too early in oilseed rape this season could have even more serious consequences than usual, warns Pete Berry of ADAS. Crops have raced ahead in the mild autumn and early winter, and many are on course to produce a...

Pulling together alternative strategies to combat PCN: there's no shortage of research to help potato growers tackle potato cyst nematode, but tying it all together isn't easy. We find out how a new BPC-funded project aims to do just that.(NEMATODE CONTROL)
February 10, 2007... The sudden withdrawal of Temik (aldicarb) at the end of last year has put the spotlight on alternative methods of potato cyst nematode (PCN) control. While alternative nematicides exist, it's not widely appreciated that there are also...

Spring's leading weed killers: there are no end of spring herbicide choices. Crops industry-leading tables summarises the main options. Compiled by Liz Robinson.(HERBICIDES)
February 10, 2007... FARMERS WEEKLYINTERACTIVEfwi.co.uk A more comprehensive version of Crops herbicide listings can be found on fwi.co.uk. Containing information about 16 extra products as well as those listed here, it also provides useful links to...

How did Atlantis rate against your experiences? Growers appear to have heeded the call for more autumn use of Atlantis, but what is the advice for those haven't yet applied it? Mike Abram finds out.(HERBICIDES)
February 10, 2007... Sales of grassweed herbicide Atlantis doubled this autumn, providing strong evidence that growers and advisers adjusted thinking following last season's experiences. As Bayer CropScience's pre-season audit clearly showed (see panel), the...

Identifying variety is vital first step: bothered by brome? Spring control tactics will depend on your autumn programme and the presence of other grassweeds. Louise Impey reports.(BROME CONTROL)(Cover story)
February 10, 2007... In summertime identifying the different brome species is straightforward enough: The heads all look quite different. Unfortunately, at this time of year it is probably a case of using a magnifying glass to look at hairs on leaves and size of...

Growers warned--monitor cereal crops now for mildew: cereal farmers are being urged to monitor crops for mildew infestation from an early stage this season. The exceptionally mild weather has kept diseases, including mildew, at very high levels.(Mildew Control)
February 10, 2007... Bill Clark of ADAS says that even if there is some very cold weather in February/March these diseases are likely to continue to develop and will have a very early start to their development as crops start to grow in the spring. "We are...

Mildew epidemic expected so spray early and keep rates up, growers warned: mildew can undermine a crop if it takes hold in the autumn and is left to develop. It is a green leaf lover, so where high seed rates have been used and nitrogen is in abundance mildew risk is exacerbated.(Mildew Control)
February 10, 2007... Don't be lulled into a false sense of security early in the season because mildew levels appear to be low, says Hutchinsons technical manager Dick Neale. Damage is often being done behind the scenes because the disease slows the plants ability...

Preventative strategy protects yields: cereal crops are at serious risk from mildew this season as this yield punishing disease manifests itself in lush plant growth. Over wintered inoculum, warm ground conditions and an increase in susceptible varieties is adding pressure on farmers to implement preventative control strategies.(Mildew Control)
February 10, 2007... Frontier agronomist Bob Mills believes that mildew is now more common than it ever used to be and this is due largely to the fact that more susceptible varieties such as Solstice are being grown. "Preventative mildew control strategies will...

Winter wheat at high risk this year: a combination of early drilling, wheat variety choice and the mild winter weather has increased the mildew risk considerably in 2007.(Mildew Control)
February 10, 2007... "Levels of mildew going into the winter have been quite staggering," says Cropwise technical manager Reuben Morris. "Very wet weather has helped to push the disease back a bit but lack of heavy frosts has maintained higher than normal inoculum...

Standing power: cereal PGRs; Liz Robinson profiles the chemical options to manipulate growth.(GROWTH REGULATORS)
February 10, 2007... FARMERS WEEKLYINTERACTIVEfwl.co.uk Crops product listings can be found on fwi.co.uk together with links to manufacturer websites and product pages Product Crops Latest time of application Plant...

Sheer size and versatility make light work of drilling: the big drill that sowed all the combinable crops on an Oxfordshire farm last autumn brought not only new levels of output, but also the versatility to fit a mix'n'match approach to crop establishment. Peter Hill reports.(MACHINERY: DRILLS)
February 10, 2007... Tucked away in the back of a machinery shed, the new trailed drill that completed Roundhill Farm's sowing programme last autumn does not look that special. But once it is unfolded in the field ready to work, the combination of low-slung...

Knight/Rabe joint venture.(NEW PRODUCTS)
February 10, 2007... Knight Farm Machinery has joined forces with Rabe Agri to sell the two companies' cultivation implements and seed drills throughout Europe. Knight will provide facilities at its Luffenham base near Oakham, Rutland, for Rabe Agri's new UK sales...

Underhaug importer.(NEW PRODUCTS)
February 10, 2007... Agrihold Farm Machinery, of March, Cambridgeshire, has been appointed England and Wales importer for the Underhaug range of potato planters and harvesters and for all Underhaug parts for the UK as a whole. The current range, previously...

Narrower TopDown cultivator.(NEW PRODUCTS)
February 10, 2007... A 3m version of the Vaderstad TopDown combination cultivator is designed for tractors of 150-180hp. As with the folding 4m to 7m sizes, the rigid-framed newcomer loosens soil from just 5cm to 25cm deep using two rows of shallow discs and...

KRM Soladrill.(NEW PRODUCTS)
February 10, 2007... The first of a range of new seed drills introduced by KRM (Keith Rennie Machinery) is designed for low-cost establishment in reduced tillage seedbeds. The Soladrill 799 is a tine coulter drill with two rows of auto-reset "C" tines and flexible...

Margin and set-aside maintenance.(NEW PRODUCTS)
February 10, 2007... Two models of flail cutter added to the Kuhn Farm Machinery range are said to be suitable for field margin and set-aside maintenance. The 2.5m BKE 250 has a fixed headstock, but can be set-up in central or offset working positions. It is fitted...

Biofuel bonanza set to save the nation: get on the biofuel bandwagon y'all, urges Stephen Carr.(CARR'S CORNER)
February 10, 2007... "A very big Sussex--pardon me sir--Sexan welcome to y'all from my biofuel ranch. Yup, that's right, folks, things have gotten so big down here in bioethanol and biodiesel we've had to rename sleepy old Sussex to somethin' a little more...

Time to win spray residue row: celebrate spray residue successes, says Helen Priestley.(Podium)
February 10, 2007... "Is it realistic to aim to grow a potato that is completely free of pesticide residues? That is the issue that prompted the most debate among those attending last month's BPC Potato Storage Conference. Some packing companies and their growers...

Learning about legislation online.(ONLINE BRIEFING)
February 10, 2007... Do you struggle to keep up to date with all the legislation affecting food and farming? Are you racking your brains to remember the dates when you are allowed to go hedge cutting? Are you sure you understand what the Water Framework Directive...

FWi hit parade.(ONLINE BRIEFING)
February 10, 2007... Crops' website, www.fwi.co.uk averages 200,000 visits a month. Below are the five most popular arable stories from the past two weeks. The number-one slot was the Crops guide to some of the top arable websites, which provided our own...

Levy board UK must deliver.(VIEWPOINT)
February 10, 2007... Foundations are the most important part of any building, and the same is true of the new organisation being built to oversee levy-funded work in farming. Last year's review and the decision to create a single umbrella body, with sectoral...

Extra land wasn't such a bad idea.(JUSTIN MCDONALD'S DIARY)
February 10, 2007... MONDAY I've taken quite a bit of stick from Maggie in recent weeks for my "reckless" renting of Heaven Farm for [pounds sterling]25/acre just before Christmas. But, ever since signing up on the deal, things seem to have gone my way. The...

Scots move towards a sustainable future: Arable Cropping in Scotland--Towards a Sustainable and Secure Future is a must for farmers north of the border.(SCOTLAND CONFERENCE)
February 10, 2007... Just how will arable farming in Scotland develop over the coming years? What are the pressures? What are the opportunities? How can new technology and new techniques help growers prepare for the future? Arable Cropping in Scotland--Towards...

VI now more than just avoiding a tax: are you up to speed with the Voluntary Initiative? We take a look at the latest developments and provide some pointers to help you this spring.(PERSPECTIVE)
February 10, 2007... Thanks to the Voluntary Initiative, the immediate threat of a pesticides tax has been averted. The danger now is that it could come back on to the agenda, possibly in the guise of a more general tax on inputs, promoted as part of the climate...

Factory closure meets a bitter sweet reaction: British Sugar's decision to close its sole factory in the West Midlands, at Allscott, at the end of this campaign sent shock-waves through the region's arable sector. Andrew Blake assesses its impact on two contrasting farms.(YOUR BUSINESS)
February 10, 2007... Initially shattered. That was John Roberts' reaction to British Sugar's announcement that sugar beet processing in the area was to end. He first heard the news on Radio Shropshire on 4 July last year--less than a month after hosting a BS...

Back-hauls make sugar viable option.(YOUR BUSINESS)
February 10, 2007... Nigel Roper intends to continue growing sugar beet in south-west Herefordshire. With the nearest factory well over 100 miles away, at first glance the decision makes little sense, he admits. But the sums for the business he runs from...

Promising delivery of a better service: in an exclusive interview, John Bridge tells Crops he is determined to ensure levy board reform delivers the benefits growers deserve.(LEVY BODIES)
February 10, 2007... Growers will obtain better value for money after reform of Britain's agricultural levy boards, the man in charge of the restructuring process has pledged. Due to be completed within the next 14 months, the reforms will see the abolition of...

Is your dealer Britain's best?(SIMA SHOW PARIS)
February 10, 2007... The search is on to find Britain's top machinery dealer. If your dealer delivers excellent service, why not nominate him or her for the Agricultural Machinery Dealer of the Year 2007 award? You could win a trip to one of Europe's top farm...

Making business better: winning the coveted Farm Machinery Dealer of the Year award spurred Frank Sutton on to greater success. If you nominate a worthy successor you could win an expenses paid visit to the SIMA Shows, Paris.(SIMA SHOW PARIS)
February 10, 2007... Winning an award can be the kiss of death for some businesses. But not for machinery dealers Frank Sutton and son, Ben, of Frank Sutton, Raglan, Monmouthshire, writes Ian Beecher Jones. When they collected the coveted Farm Machinery Dealer...

How to lift rape yields above 3t/ha plateau: canopy management and maximising seed number and seed weight are critical for oilseed rape yields. Mike Abram reports.(TECHNICAL)
February 24, 2007... Most growers have a pretty firm idea of what final ear population they are aiming for to maximise yield when planting a wheat crop. But how many pods/sq m are optimum in oilseed rape? Or how many seeds/sq m are needed for a 5t/ha crop? ...

Exploiting 'double-gene' technology: research has identified the tools wheat breeders need to arm growers against soil-borne viruses. Sarah Henly reports.(CEREAL MOSAIC VIRUS)
February 24, 2007... Its appearance in the UK, probably via contaminated soil or infected seed, was worrying. It was expected to take off like barley yellow mosaic virus, which is spread in the soil by the same simple organism. But after eight years here,...

Lush crops mean need for care with combinations: tank-mixing can save time and money with little risk. But more caution than usual might be needed on this season's forward crops. Over the next five pages, Sarah Henly finds out what's hot and what's not.(TANK MIX ADVICE)
February 24, 2007... Imagine not being allowed to apply Bravo with Opus. Pity the French, then, who are not permitted to mix chlorothalonil with any triazole. Across the Channel, if a product is not listed as compatible with another on the label, it is illegal to...

Do some research before you decide.(TANK MIX ADVICE)
February 24, 2007... Before mixing new products, where experience is limited, ProCam's David Ellerton recommends doing some research. Most manufacturer websites carry useful background information to aid decision making. He often requests compatibility tests of...

Application timing is crucial.(TANK MIX--CASE STUDY)
February 24, 2007... When you are contract farming as well as running your own arable unit, the workload peaks in the autumn and spring can be huge. And timing applications to maximise product efficacy is even more critical. Philip Woods of partnership PR...

Disease control armoury: crops updated fungicide tables guide you through this year's main disease control options. Compiled by Liz Robinson.(FUNGICIDES)
February 24, 2007... FARMERS WEEKLYINTERACTIVEfwi.co.uk Crops product listings, including a number of extra products, can be found on fwi.co.uk together with links to manufacturer websites and product pages Product LERAP Wheat...

Beware blackleg at establishment.(POTATO SEED)
February 24, 2007... Potato growers should think carefully about disease when choosing seed this season. More ware producers are set to use home-saved seed, perhaps for the first time, as the cost of buying in supplies has soared after last year's drought. ...

'Right decision', says virgin grower: Farmers Weekly farmer focus writer Steve Bumstead will be growing sugar beet for the first time this season. Here he explains why and how.(SUGAR BEET)
February 24, 2007... "You've done what?" exclaimed a farming acquaintance who sold his sugar beet quota a while ago. Yes, the stark reality is that I have bought nearly 1000t of British Sugar contract tonnage entitlement. Why am I jumping into the crop...

Eco-friendly kit steps up a gear: new tractors pitched into the increasingly competitive 150-300hp sector promise greater fuel efficiency, improved productivity and clever electronics. Two newcomers epitomise the technology drive, as Peter Hill reports.(MACHINERY: TRACTORS)
February 24, 2007... NEW HOLLAND T7000 Although the New Holland T7000 uses the transaxle assembly from the long-wheelbase Series TM tractors it replaces, it has been thoroughly reworked with a new engine and cab and novelties such as active front-axle...

Fendt raises its performance level.(MACHINERY: TRACTORS)
February 24, 2007... The prospect of an all-new range of high horsepower tractors, which was promised with the preview of Fendt's high-tech 936 Vario, has been fulfilled with the launch of a six-model line-up spanning 220-360hp. As Fendt UK sales manager...

Tryhardatops may be last man standing: are you keeping up with farming's evolutionary changes, asks Stephen Carr.(CARR'S CORNER)
February 24, 2007... "Arable farmers, as a species at the beginning of the 21st century, are undergoing a period of accelerated evolution. Not only have we had to adapt to the complete removal of our production subsidies at the beginning of 2005, but the global...

Consumer choice rules: think consumers, lift margins, says Andrew Fearne.(Podium)
February 24, 2007... "Tesco takes [pounds sterling]1 of every [pounds sterling]3 spent on groceries and [pounds sterling]1 in [pounds sterling]8 of everything UK consumers spend. So what can be learnt from them and other retailers as farmers strive to reconnect...

Agri-environmental scheme information.(ONLINE BRIEFING)
February 24, 2007... About 40% of farmland in England is now being managed under some sort of agri-environment agreement. Some 29,000 farmers have signed up for the Entry Level (ELS) or Organic Entry Level (OELS) schemes, covering almost 4m hectares of land,...

FWi hit parade.(ONLINE BRIEFING)
February 24, 2007... Finding the best nitrogen programmes for this season's crops seems to be at the forefront of farmers' minds as the unusually mild, but wet, winter continues. According to Crops' website, www.fwi.co.uk, which averages 200,000 visits a...

RPA deadline is a challenge.(VIEWPOINT)
February 24, 2007... Something is better than nothing. So news that the Rural Payment Agency is on the way to completing partial payments to all English farmers registered under the Single Payment Scheme is welcome indeed. Such payments, guaranteed to be at...

Meat eating--a global nightmare.(JUSTIN MCDONALD'S DIARY)
February 24, 2007... MONDAY Maggie commented over breakfast that one can go along for a number of years in farming with nothing much happening and then suddenly "the ground shifts". I thought for one horrible moment she was about to confess to an affair, but...

Grain benefits from campaign success: Farmhouse Breakfast Week is designed to boost grain consumption in the UK. But does it work? The home-grown cereals authority explains its success.(PERSPECTIVE)
February 24, 2007... Farmhouse Breakfast Week has grown steadily over the past eight years, from just 10 events in 2000, to an unprecedented 1551 events in 2006. The number of partners has almost doubled from 48 in 2004 to 80 in 2006 and overall results from 2007...

Sound agronomy can see Scotland score with biofuels: biofuels are set to become an important part of Scottish arable production, provided the right varieties and agronomy are adopted. Carol McLaren reports.(YOUR BUSINESS)
February 24, 2007... Oilseed rape yields in Scotland remain stuck at 25-year ago levels and must be improved soon if growers are to make the most of the developing biofuels market. Peter Gregory, director of the Scottish Crop Research Institute, told delegates...